April 21, 2023 – Ulaanbaatar

On April 10 and 13. 2023, NGOs Forum Asia, and Center for Human Rights and Development organized press conferences respectively in Ulaanbaatar and Sainshand cities, presenting the results of their so-called “Dreams Fading into Dust” Assessment, conducted in 2022 in Dalanjargalan, Khatanbulag and Ulaanbadrakh soums of Dornogovi aimag.

Badrakh Energy LLC, a joint company between the Mongolian state-owned Mon-Atom LLC and Orano Group of France, regrets that this so-called Assessment is, in addition to not having based on fact-checked evidence, distorts facts, unprofessional, it disregards the position, research and information of other stakeholders, and is based solely on information that are baseless hearsay from a few people, with its contents amounting to an attempt to instill fear in the public regarding exploration and mining of uranium.

The claims made by the above NGOs in the press conferences not only serve as an unfounded accusation against our joint company, but by containing clearly false information claiming that the company’s operations had negative impact on the environment, human and animal health, we believe that the joint company’s business reputation had been damaged, and it is also impeding the development of a new, prospective industry in Mongolia and it is simultaneously serving as a move to devalue livestock, which is the primary source of livelihood of ordinary herders.

As a responsible company in an open and free-speech society, Badrakh Energy LLC would like to exercise its right to respond and provide the public with verified and fact-checked information.

Numerous planned and unplanned inspections by professional organizations are conducted on the activities of Badrakh Energy LLC. Furthermore, governments of previous years have separately appointed many wide-ranging working groups which have conducted inspections and produced conclusions. To briefly refer to some of the conclusions:

-In 2013, conclusion by a working group appointed by a directive by the Prime Minister of Mongolia N. Altankhuyag concluded: “According to inspections and analysis performed on the target group at Argalant bagh of Ulaanbadrakh soum and Zuunbayan bagh of Sainshand soum in Dornogovi aimag, there were no illnesses and health changes resulting from ionizing radiation and heavy metals.”

-In 2020, report by a working group established by the order of the Chief Cabinet Secretary of Mongolia L. Oyun-Erdene concluded: “Infectious, noninfectious and unnatural deaths in Dornogovi aimag have not been above national average since the year 2012.”

-In a 2021 conclusion made by a working group from the Academy of Science stated: “High concentrations of fluoride, arsenic, and uranium in certain drinking water wells for people and livestock do not meet the drinking water standards due to the soil and rocks in this area containing higher concentrations of these elements than the world average.”

-In a 2021 water audit report commissioned by Galba-Uush Dolood Basin Administration concluded: “Comparing the analysis results, with the start of Zuuvch Ovoo pilot project, there have been no serious changes to underground water supply and quality.”

We would like to note that, in addition to state inspectors and state administrative officials, scientists and researchers from corresponding scientific institutions participated together in order to draw the aforementioned conclusions. The results from state inspections (not to forget independent international study) have all reached the same conclusion that there was no negative impact to the environment and health of people and livestock in relation to operations of the company.

Badrakh Energy LLC employs best practices and standards in its activities and is proud of its excellent environment, health and safety record. It is our pleasure to note here that the company has always conducted its activities in full transparency and in active collaboration with Mongolian state authorities and our local communities, as well as with representatives of civil society.

Moving on, when distributing information to the public regarding Badrakh Energy LLC, we request NGOs to disseminate such information after a thorough review, and rely on accurate information established by official inspection and analysis. 

Badrakh Energy LLC 

Floor 8, ICC Tower, 

Jamyan Gun Street 9, 

Khoroo-1, Sukhbaatar District, 

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Phone: +976-70110475 (103)

http://www.badrakhenergy.com/EN/

https://www.facebook.com/badrakhenergy/